BENGALURU: Work on the much-needed Ejipura flyover project, which has been pending for more than five years, has finally resumed now. This is one of the major projects that has been halted for several years.
Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said, “The Ejipura flyover construction near Koramangala was halted several years ago. The tender has been awarded to Hyderabad-based company BSCTL to complete the pending flyover work. Earlier, the tender had been given to Simplex Infrastructure Pvt Ltd for the construction of the two-and-a-half-kilometre-long flyover on May 4, 2017 and it was to be completed by November 4, 2019. But Simplex Infrastructure did not complete the flyover even five years after getting the contract, and had completed only 40 per cent of the work at a cost of Rs 80 crore. The BBMP had issued a notice to complete the work, but the company did not take it seriously. Later, the tender was canceled by the Palike on the basis of a court order”.
“The flyover construction work was started during the previous Congress government. Then, the coalition government came to power and the BJP government was in power. Now, the Congress is ruling the state and it has been suggested to finish the tender process and start the work again”, Ramalinga Reddy said.
“The flyover work has been resumed and a work order was also issued. Earlier governments did not show much interest. I staged a protest to demand the completion of the flyover as soon as possible. A meeting was held with land acquisition department officers. Some electrical poles have to be shifted, and I directed them to the Bescom officials. Military land was donated for the flyover and excavation should start. Some trees will have to be cut and other trees trimmed; permission has been obtained for it. We directed the contract company to speed up the work. The flyover construction will be completed in one-and-half years”, the Transport minister added.
This is the second longest flyover in Bengaluru, and once completed, Ejipura Junction, Sony World Junction, Kendriya Sadan, Koramangala 8th Main Road, Koramangala 60 ft Road Circle, BDA Junction signals will become traffic-free. The flyover is currently 42 per cent complete and will be open to the public in early 2025, the minister said.